About Industrial & Management Systems Engineering

How is Industrial Engineering like other engineering disciplines?

We are trained in the same basic way as other engineers. We take the same foundation courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, humanities, and social sciences. We also take some of the basic physical engineering sciences like thermodynamics, circuits, statics, and solids. Like other engineering disciplines, Industrial Engineering employs mathematical models as a central device for understanding a system.

What makes Industrial Engineer different from the other engineering disciplines?

What sets us apart from other engineering disciplines is our emphasis on both people and technology. Industrial engineering is unique among engineering disciplines in that it focuses on how people interact with a system. This concern for the human element leads to system designs that enhance the quality of life for all people. As a result, many industrial engineers have the leadership qualities necessary to advance in management. Industrial Engineers are often promoted to managerial positions sooner than many other engineers because of their training in leadership and in analyzing systems to improve productivity, quality, and profits.

What classes will I take as an industrial engineering student?

On average, it takes four years to earn a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. Typically, the first two years are spent studying basic sciences (mathematics, physics, and chemistry), introductory engineering, the humanities, social sciences, and English. During the last two years, most courses will concentrate in industrial engineering. Industrial Engineers have broad training in many areas including people-oriented techniques, design-oriented techniques, basic engineering principles, applied math, computer techniques, communication skills, psychology, humanities, and the arts.

The Industrial Engineer curriculum prepares graduates to pursue registration as a Professional Engineer. In addition, the broad learning experience allows you the flexibility to continue toward a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering or for an advanced degree in law, business, medicine, or psychology.

Courses in the Industrial Engineering undergraduate curriculum cover five main focus areas:

Production - improving the operation of a system. Key course topics you will learn: forecasting, inventory control, quality control, facility layout, material handling, economic analysis, production planning and control, quality control, and facilities design.

Management - how to organize people and projects. Key course topics you will learn: defining project teams, evaluating employees, controlling budgets, controlling costs, project planning, and assigning jobs to workers.

Ergonomics - how people and machines interact. Physical ergonomics view the human as a biomechanical device while cognitive ergonomics examines the cognitive aspects of humans. Key course topics you will learn: design for human use, engineering psychology, anthropometry, workplace design, work environment (safety), physiological limitations, control system interaction, and computer interaction.

Manufacturing Processes and Systems - how parts are made and how manufacturing systems communicate. Manufacturing process deals directly with materials forming, cutting, shaping, planning. Manufacturing systems focus on the integration of manufacturing processes, usually through computer control and communications. Key course topics you will learn: process planning, computer-aided design, robotics, scheduling, metal cutting theory, metrology, programmable logic control, and numerical control.

Operations Research - methods for the general analysis and design of systems. Key course topics you will learn: optimization, linear programming, queuing theory, dynamic programming, network analysis, stochastic modeling, simulation, and nonlinear programming.

What are the basic sciences for Industrial Engineering?

Since we deal with the way something is done, our tools emphasize methods of understanding systems. Fundamentally, Industrial Engineering has no basic physical science like mechanics, chemistry, or electricity. The foundation for our tools and technique are the mathematical sciences - mathematics, statistics, and computer science which provide us with such tools as optimization, stochastic processes, and computer simulation. Our courses therefore use these tools to understand traditional production elements such as economic analysis, production planning, facilities design, materials handling, manufacturing systems and processes, and job analysis.

Don't all engineers use the same math?

All engineers, including Industrial Engineers, take mathematics through calculus and differential equations. Industrial Engineering is different in that it is based on discrete variable math, whereas all other engineering is based on continuous variable math. We emphasize the use of linear algebra and difference equations, as opposed to the use of differential equations which are so prevalent in other engineering disciplines. This emphasis becomes evident in optimization of production systems in which we are sequencing orders, scheduling batches, determining the number of materials handling units, arranging factory layouts, finding sequences of motions, etc. As Industrial Engineers, we deal almost exclusively with systems of discrete components.

All Industrial Engineers at UNL take at least two courses in probability and statistics. While other engineering disciplines take only one course in probability and statistics, few have integrated these topics into their advanced coursework. In comparison, many of the courses in our curriculum (production planning, economic risk assessment, facilities planning, quality control, simulation, and stochastic process) employ statistical models for understanding systems.

How does computing influence Industrial Engineering?

Probably no other aspect of technology has greater impact on us than computing. Like all other engineers, we take computer programming. Specific specialty courses like machine control and simulation expand the role of computer science principles for our students. Further, most all of our tools are now computer based, with growing recognition that computer-assisted analysis and design of production systems hold new untapped potential. Of special note is how computer simulation involves using specialized computer languages for modeling production systems and analyzing their behavior on the computer.

Are scholarships and financial assistance available?

Yes, we have several scholarships funded by the department, industry, alumni, and friends.